[Cover Feature] Making Medical Diagnosis An Out-Of-Body Experience
Integrated communications from different in-body implants and on-body sensors will allow hearing for the deaf, sight for the blind, and mobility for the disabled. In-body communications will also improve therapy and diagnoses. For example, an implanted pacemaker will regularly transmit performance data and the patient's condition to a local clinic. A key element of an RF-linked implant is the in-body antenna. It must meet biocompatible and size-limit requirements, and thus...
—
Henry Higgins
[Direct Feature] Can Auto Semis Stand The Test Of Time?
Today, semiconductors account for around 15% of the value of a car's electronic components. This is expected to reach 30% by 2010. Cars now have between eight and ten subnets, 50 to 60 network nodes, and an architecture that enables Controller Area Networks (CANs) and Local Interconnect Networks (LINs) to complement each other. CAN, invented in the 1980s by Bosch as a fault-tolerant, high-reliable bus system for airbag and ABS applications is still the most common bus protocol...
—
Martin Stadler
[Direct Feature] Wave Goodbye To The Doctor's Waiting Room
The aim for designers of medical devices and systems is to improve the functionality of their devices for diagnostic and therapeutic use, keep costs down, and make their use more convenient for patients. Parallel to this demographical evolution run two technological developments: biotechnology, including mapping of the human genome, and the shift from microelectronics to nanoelectronics. In the long term electronics will give people a personal body area network (BAN) (...
—
Katrien Marent
[News Feature] Talk Is Cheap
The telecom market is starting to pick up. We are seeing a resurgence of interest in adding new network capabilities and services. Most telecom equipment manufacturers and network providers are familiar with the cost benefits of Voice over IP (VoIP). Some are already deploying these systems, as well as looking at ways to exploit the seamless mobility capabilities that these technologies can also provide. Many audio telephony applications require audio streaming capabilities,...
—
John Edwards
[News Feature] Money Men Jump On Board
Wall Street has woken up to the opportunities offered by the embedded electronics market, and it likes what it sees. It likes the fact that capital markets are open and prepared to provide low-cost finance to support research, design, and company expansion. It's also impressed by the embedded sectors growth performance of 8% between 2002-2004. But I suspect the really big incentive and nerve-calming encouragement for the money men is what I call the "customer...
—
Paul Whytock
[Editorial] Father Of The Mac
I thought I'd take the opportunity in this column of looking back on the work and design philosophies of computer scientist Jef Raskin, who recently passed away. This was the man that 30 years ago encouraged Apple to make sure its computers where not just user-friendly, but user-inspiring. Jef Raskin worked closely with Apple founders Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak. Its only fair to say that Steve Jobs was a major influence on the way Apple computers developed in those early...
—
Paul Whytock
[Upfront] World’s First Flexible 8-bit Asynchronous Processor
Seiko Epson developed what it claims is the world's first flexible 8bit asynchronous microprocessor, using low-temperature polysilicon thin-film transistors (LTPS-TFTs) on a plastic substrate. With energy consumption reduced by 70%, Epson is now researching potential applications for its invention. The combination of Epson's original SUFTLA technology, LTPS-TFT technology, and asynchronous circuit design technology has made it possible for Epson to create stable displays that...
—
Paul Whytock
[Upfront] Blackfin Testing Toolkit
With the new Analog Devices (ADI) Blackfin Test Integration Toolkit for LabVIEW, engineers can now use National Instruments' LabVIEW graphical development environment with ADI's VisualDSP++ embedded development environment to streamline the development of Blackfin-based systems. The toolkit is included free with ADI's VisualDSP++ software and hardware evaluation kits. It integrates with NI LabVIEW to provide design engineers with a single development, prototyping, and test...
—
Paul Whytock
[Upfront] Analog Devices Teams Up With Mobile Group
Analog Devices has joined the OMTP (Open Mobile Terminal Platform) group as an Advisor participant. Established by a group of mobile operators, OMTP's mission is to create an open ecosystem for advanced mobile platforms that support enhanced subscriber experiences, while tailored to be able to meet the requirements of each operator. "The work the OMTP group has begun will be critical as mobile operators tackle the challenge of identifying a uniform interface that can be...
—
Paul Whytock
[Upfront] Clearer Sound And Bluetooth Link For Hearing Aid Users
AMI Semiconductor's BelaSigna 200 DSP-based audio system was selected by Phonak Communications for the SmartLink SX, a communication device that provides hearing aid users with clear speech input in adverse listening situations. It also enables them to communicate easily through mobile phones and other Bluetooth-compatible devices. Even with the best hearing instruments, most hearing-impaired people notice that certain situations present more hearing difficulties. Using a...
—
Paul Whytock
[Upfront] First For Philips
The industry's first 90nm ARM9 family-based 32bit microcontroller family has been launched by Royal Dutch Philips. The LPC3000 family, based on Philips' Nexperia platform, is manufactured in the 90nm process technology developed in the 300mm Crolles2 pilot facility Philips shares with Freescale Semiconductor and STMicroelectronics in Crolles, France. By using 90nm process technology and the ARM926EJ-S core, Philips claims to have cut manufacturing costs, decreased power...
—
Paul Whytock
[Upfront] Micron Sales Up 6%
Micron Technology announced results for its first quarter of fiscal 2005, which ended December 2, 2004. The company earned operating income of $175 million and net income of $155 million, or $0.23 per diluted share, on net sales of $1,260 million. These quarterly results compare to net income of $94 million, or $0.14 per diluted share, on net sales of $1189 million for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2004. Net sales for the first quarter of fiscal 2005 were 6% higher than for the...
—
Paul Whytock
[Upfront] Device Cuts Control Board Space By Half
International Rectifier (IR) introduced the IR1150 family of µPFC for AC-DC power-factor-correction (PFC) circuits. The company says that the SO-8 packaged device will cut PFC control board space in half while enabling a flexible high-density solution for computing, consumer electronics, and home appliances from 75W to 4kW. IR's One Cycle Control (OCC) approach in the IR1150 delivers the performance of continuous-conduction-mode (CCM) PFC with the low component count of a...
—
Paul Whytock
[Pease Porridge] What’s All This Magazine Stuff, Anyhow?
The dictionaries have always said that a magazine is a military storage place, in a fort or ship, to keep bullets, gunpowder, shells, and other important (or dangerous) military supplies. If an enemy shell hit your magazine, you would be a goner. Moviemakers capitalise on that. Nowadays, everybody reads magazines—collections of stories on various topics and themes. There are thousands of magazines you can read. I get several technical magazines in addition to Electronic...
—
Bob Pease
Add wireless networking to virtually any electronic device with the highest levels of security with the MatchPort® b/g Pro. SmartRoam technology allows seamless mobile connectivity and improved reliability. Low power consumption mode option available.
Keithley’s “Understanding New Developments in Measurement, and Control,” is a guide to high-performance test and measurement applications and techniques. Order your copy by calling 1-800-588-9238.
